J. Otto Seibold

J.otto Seibold, artist and author/illustrator to over 20 children's books, born in Oakland, California in 1960, grew up an apricots-throw away from the John Muir home in Martinez Ca. With no formal art training he was able to sneak into the art world during the "outsider artist" craze of the 1990s. He is the first person to create children's books digitally with "Mr.Lunch Takes a Plane Ride" (1993) and has continued publishing for 20 years. His book "Olive the Other Reindeer" (1996) led to an animated television special of the same name produced by Matt Groening and Fox Family Entertainment.

His art has also been shown at Mass MOCA, Deitch Projects NYC, The Getty LA, Contemporary Jewish Museum SF, Grass Hut Portland, MOCA LA, The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts SF, Gallery Paule Anglim SF, Oakland Museum CA, Juxtapoz Gallery Detroit, and Galerie Impare in Paris. He has done freelance illustration for years including clients such as: Nike, Time Warner, Girl Skateboards, Pixar, Comcast, Giant Robot, Target, TiVo, 826 Detroit, Quaker Oats, Fox Entertainment, Gnu Skateboards, Swatch, Nordstrom

His book Penguin Dreams was named a New York Times "Best Illustrated Book". Mr. Lunch Takes a Plane Ride won a Cuffie Award from Publisher's Weekly; Mr. Lunch won for most memorable character in a lead role. Going to the Getty won an Art Directors Club Illustration Award. Olive, the Other Reindeer was a New York Times Bestseller and the movie version was nominated for an Emmy Award.

James has three children and after many far flung homes, currently lives and works in Oakland Ca.

Books illustrated by J.otto

Written by J.otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh

• Mr. Lunch Takes a Plane Ride (1993)
• Mr. Lunch Borrows a Canoe (1994)
• Monkey Business (1995)
• Free Lunch (1996)
• Going to the Getty (1997)
• Olive, the Other Reindeer (1997)
• Penguin Dreams (1999)

Written Vivian Walsh

• Gluey: A Snail Tale (2002)
• Olive, My Love (2004)

Written by Richard Wilbur

• The Pig in the Spigot (2000)

Written by Lewis Carroll

• Alice in (pop-up) Wonderland (2003)

Written by J.otto Seibold

• Quincy, the Hobby Photographer (2006)
• The Fuchsia Is Now (2006)
• Other Goose (2010)
• Lost Sloth (2013)

Written by Siobhan Vivian

• Vunce Upon a Time (2008)

External links

• jottodotcom.com (the site formerly known as jotto.com)
• Interview with J. Otto
• {http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT9Fnr5IX8s} lego blockumentary (film short)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdt9OO-zbkE (Black Francis reads LOST SLOTH by J. Otto Seibold)